G.D.H. Cole 1956
Source: The American Socialist, Vol. 3 No. 7, July 1956, p. 19.
Online Version: Marxist Internet Archive 2023
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THE International Society for Socialist Studies was founded at a conference held in Paris in March 1956. Its purpose is to bring about closer contact between those socialists, in all countries, who regard socialism as in its essence a world movement transcending national boundaries and are desirous of working together in the re-thinking of basic socialist ideas in the light of this international approach. Its aim is to bring such socialists into a combined effort to find solutions for the problems of constructive socialism, taking account of the varying situations of the different countries, but seeking ways to united action on a world-wide scale.
ISSS consists of individual members, and is not a federation of national socialist parties or of national bodies of any sort. Its members are free to form groups, locally, nationally, or on any geographical basis that may be convenient; and both the ISSS and its groups will gladly receive subscriptions from any socialist body that wishes to help them. But ISSS does not accept affiliations from other bodies, or give bodies which subscribe to its funds any vote or control in its affairs. It is governed by its individual members, any of whom has a right to attend and vote at the periodic conferences which it expects to convene in due course.
ISSS has been established as a means of promoting the intensive study of socialism with a practical end in view. It hopes to make its members—and through them the movements with which they are connected—more fully aware of what is being thought and done by socialists in other countries, and to put them in a better position to exchange ideas despite the barriers of distance and language. For the present, its principal activity will be the circulation of memoranda written by members for discussion and comment among its members throughout the world. The members will be asked to send in their comments on these memoranda, to discuss them where possible in their own groups and, where so disposed, to submit memoranda for circulation, either direct to ISSS headquarters or in the first instance to such groups.
The memoranda selected for general circulation will be translated into as many languages as possible; and where headquarters is unable to provide a translation into a particular language, the group in the country concerned will be invited to make its own translation for local use. The comments received will be collected and will be used as material for discussion at the conferences of ISSS. It is hoped in this way to build up a body of basic socialist thought which each country will be able to apply to its particular conditions and opportunities for action.
ISSS has at present no general statement of principles or doctrine. It cannot have; for such a statement could only emerge as an outcome of the discussion it is setting on foot. Those who have taken part in its establishment have, however, in common certain key ideas which they feel must go to the making of the general statement at which they hope to arrive. These ideas, stated in the broadest terms, are as follows:
1. Socialism is essentially an international, world-wide movement, with a message for all peoples resting on a belief in the fraternity of all. It therefore excludes and rejects every form of racial or national discrimination, and takes its stand against every manifestation of colonialism or imperialism, wherever found.
2. Socialism involves much more than the establishment of a "welfare state." It involves the structural transformation of capitalist or feudal societies, leading to the complete elimination of class differences and to the institution of a classless society.
3. Socialism, as it stands for the fraternal cooperation of all peoples, is opposed to war and to all power blocs which divide the world into hostile armed camps which waste the peoples' substance in preparing for war. It involves breaking down the barriers which divide man from man and people from people, and the establishment of free intercourse and free association across national frontiers.
These three affirmations of principle accepted at the Paris conference are only in provisional form. They need to be amplified and better expressed as an outcome of further discussion. In the meantime they are put forward as an indication to potential members of the motives that have gone into the formation of ISSS and of the spirit in which ISSS intends to pursue its studies.
The countries represented at the Paris conference included Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Yugoslavia, Sweden, Lebanon and Jamaica. Members have also been enrolled in the United States, Egypt, Scandinavia, and a number of other countries.